Christmas Concerns for Pets - Dr. Mason

Christmas concerns for pets Poinsettia and mistletoe are both plants commonly brought into homes for the Christmas holidays. These plants are both toxic to dogs and cats. If pet owners wish to decorate their homes for the holidays then artificial plants would be recommended. It is not recommended to feed people food to pets. Guests should be warned upon arrival to reduce risks of upset stomach or other disease.

There are more and more products becoming available that contain xylitol which is deadly to dogs while harmless to humans and cats. Pets will sometimes chew and eat things that are not appropriate. For cats, a major concern is tinsel for Christmas tree decoration. A linear foreign body in a cat is a condition that requires emergency surgery.

Holiday ornaments can be confused as a pet toy. If a pet is showing interest in particular ornaments then those should be kept out of pet's reach. Pets will, rarely but it does happen, chew on electrical cords from lighting. Cords should be inspected for chew marks.

Having large groups on people visiting for the holidays can be stressful for pets. Cats are probably more affected by this than dogs. Pets should have access to areas for the house without guests if they wish to be left alone.

If pets have noise phobias, then medications can help reduce stress from fireworks on New Year's Eve.